Ilia Malinin’s parents: Former Olympians who helped shape the 'Quad God' — and why his mom isn’t watching in Milan
Ilia Malinin’s run at the 2026 Winter Olympics has spotlighted the family behind the 21-year-old sensation. His parents, both former Olympic skaters, have been key figures in his rise — and this week one of them chose to stay away from the crowd to avoid the pressure of watching him compete.
From competitor to coach: a shared skating legacy
Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov both raced through the international ranks before Ilia was even born. Each skated at the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, bringing firsthand elite experience to their son’s training. Over the years the couple has moved from competing on the world stage to coaching and mentoring Ilia as he developed into one of the sport’s most technically daring athletes.
Why Tatiana Malinina won’t be in the stands
Ilia has said that his mother gets intensely nervous during his competitions and that she prefers to stay away from the stands for particularly high-pressure events. In a Feb. 13 interview (ET) he explained that it will likely be just him and his father in the arena, while his mother keeps a low profile until his Olympic program is complete. The decision underscores a familiar family dynamic: parents who are deeply invested in their child’s success but protective of one another’s emotional limits.
Roman Skorniakov: the father who will watch live
Roman Skorniakov plans to be at the rink to cheer on his son. A former national champion, he brings his own competitive perspective to the role of parent and coach. His presence in Milan offers Ilia a direct line to someone who understands the unique pressures of Olympic performance, and serves as the public face of family support while his wife steps back.
Ilia’s Olympic momentum and why the coaching matters
Ilia Malinin entered the final phase of the men’s event buoyed by a near-flawless short program that earned a 108. 16 score after he landed a quad flip and a quad lutz. He already helped Team USA secure gold in the figure skating team event on Feb. 8 (ET). The technical ambition that defines Ilia’s skating — the quads that have earned him the nickname 'Quad God' — is rooted in a training environment where both parents have offered technical guidance and competitive insight throughout his career.
Parents’ competitive highlights and early backgrounds
Tatiana Malinina was born in Novosibirsk in 1973 and moved with her family to Uzbekistan as a teenager. She placed eighth at Nagano in 1998 and won the inaugural Four Continents crown in 1999, along with other Grand Prix medals. An illness forced her to withdraw after the short program at Salt Lake City in 2002. Roman Skorniakov was born in Sverdlovsk in 1976 and later represented Uzbekistan as well; he won his country’s national title in 1997 and placed nineteenth at both the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. Both parents competed at multiple ISU championships, giving them a breadth of experience they now bring to Ilia’s camp.
What’s next for the family and for Ilia
With the men’s free skate set for Friday (ET), Ilia moves into one of the most scrutinized moments of his young career. Whether Tatiana watches from afar or Roman takes the rinkside seat, the family’s imprint on his skating is unmistakable. Their combined experience as former Olympians and long-time coaches has shaped a skater who pushes technical boundaries while navigating the emotional intensity of the sport at its very top.
